THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Corruption charges should not be blithely overlooked, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has said, adding that they should be investigated comprehensively and culprits, however prominent they may be, should be brought to justice if the charges are proven true.
Chennithala’s observations on corruption came as a post on his new blog www.blog.rameshchennithala.org.
‘’I will not say that corruption charges should be brushed aside as mere allegations. When allegations arise, the agencies concerned should investigate them comprehensively. If the charges are proved, the culprits, however prominent they are, should be punished under law irrespective of whether they are political leaders, ministers or officials. If that happens, the common man will not lose faith in the administration. Controversies and media reports should not in any manner affect the investigation,’’ Chennithala said.
It is unfortunate fact that we have lost forums for serious debate on corruption and indulge ourselves in scandals surrounding it, he said.
Such politically-motivated allegations - the bar scam is one such, he said - draw attention away from true corruption and enable the really corrupt to escape the clutches of law.
The enormity of corruption as a social evil become evident only when corruption is seen from the perspective of the common man, he said.
For them, corruption happens when they have to pay money or gifts for obtaining services that are due to them from the government machinery.
This negates the quality of public life of the individual and the society and enhances their lack of faith in the government, he said.